Ketamine Use for Prolonged Field Care Reduces Supply Use

 Andrew B Hall, Lindsay Morrow, Michael Dixon 

J Spec Oper Med. Fall 2020;20(3):120-121 

Abstract 

This case describes the prolonged treatment of a 38-year-old man with a transpelvic gunshot wound requiring a diverting ostomy and cystostomy for damage control procedures with a comminuted acetabular and femoral head fracture. The team used a ketamine drip for prolonged field care over 48 hours. The benefit of using a ketamine drip included low supply requirement, excellent analgesia, and ease of administration, but side-effects included somnolence and atelectasis necessitating oxygen supplementation before evacuation.